FOSSIL CARNIVORA 13 



OXY^NID.^. 



Types: Oxyana and Patriojelis, skeletons. 



Somewhat resembling the larger Mustelines, such as the Otter and 

 the Wolverine, with short heavy jaws adapted to seize and hold 

 their prey, with long body and with short powerful limbs adapted 

 for leaping, climbing or swimming, but not for swift rtmning. The 

 tail was extraordinarily long, and was larger than in any of the mod- 

 ern Carnivora. The teeth were adapted for flesh-eating, the first 

 upper and second lower molar being enlarged and specialized for 

 cutting the flesh. (See Fig. 5.) 



Oxyana, from the Lower Eocene, was about as large as a 

 Wolverine. The head is disproportionately large, and the tail 

 as long as the entire body and head. The brain-case is very 

 small, and the space for jaw-muscles very large, the w^holc organ- 

 ization much inferior to that of modern flesh-eaters. Powerful 

 and savage it no doubt was, but far from having the keen intel- 

 ligence, speed and endurance of the Carnivora of to-day. 



The mounted skeleton of this rare animal is due to a fortunate 

 accident. In the Cope Collection there was an incomplete and 

 fragmentary skeleton collected in 1881 in Northern Wyoming 

 by Dr. J. L. Wortman. In 1891 Dr. Wortman, while collecting 

 for this Museum in the same region, discovered another frag- 

 mentary skeleton, also incomplete. After the purchase of the 

 Cope Collection by the Museum, these two specimens were com- 

 pared and found to be parts of the same individual, together 

 constituting a nearly complete skeleton, which has been mounted 

 and placed on exhibition, with the missing parts restored in 

 tinted plaster. 



In Oxycena the last upper molar has disappeared, and the second 

 possesses a large shearing blade placed transversely to that of the 

 first molar. In Patriojelis of the Middle Eocene the second molar 

 has become verv small, and all the flesh-cutting is done by the first 

 molar, shearing against the second lower molar. The teeth are there- 

 fore a stage farther advanced in specialization. 



The Patriojelis skeleton is composed of two individuals of the 

 same species which were found at the same horizon and locality. 

 The animal was about as large as a jaguar, and massively pro- 



